A 32-year-old Edmonton man is facing 38 drug, firearm and explosive-related charges in connection with a vehicle stop that occurred in the city’s south side Friday evening.
Members of the Edmonton Police Service STAT team (Specialized Traffic Apprehension teams) converged on a GMC Yukon vehicle speeding southbound on Wayne Gretzky Drive Friday evening.
Officers subsequently pulled over the vehicle on Calgary Trail just south of the Whitemud, and noticed what appeared to be marijuana sticking out of a backpack on the floor of the back seat. Upon further scrutiny, members discovered a loaded handgun, two loaded magazines, 76 rounds of assorted ammunition, two large hunting knives, an axe and close to six grams of marijuana in or around the backpack.
Post-arrest interviews and a detailed search were conducted with the accused male at Southeast Division, where investigators discovered an improvised explosive device in the backpack. Members of the EPS Bomb Detail were dispatched and detonated the device in the northwest parking lot of the division.
A search warrant was subsequently authorized for a residence near 45 Avenue and Turner Square, where multiple firearms were seized including two loaded pump-action shotguns, three non-restricted rifles, one loaded restricted rife, five high capacity, prohibited rifle magazines and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.
During their search, investigators also discovered a second explosive device. As a result, the EPS Bomb Detail was again called on to assist, and successfully detonated the explosive.
Landon Carstairs, 32, has since been charged with 38 drug, firearm and explosive-related offences with additional charges pending.
Officers subsequently pulled over the vehicle on Calgary Trail just south of the Whitemud, and noticed what appeared to be marijuana sticking out of a backpack on the floor of the back seat. Upon further scrutiny, members discovered a loaded handgun, two loaded magazines, 76 rounds of assorted ammunition, two large hunting knives, an axe and close to six grams of marijuana in or around the backpack.
Post-arrest interviews and a detailed search were conducted with the accused male at Southeast Division, where investigators discovered an improvised explosive device in the backpack. Members of the EPS Bomb Detail were dispatched and detonated the device in the northwest parking lot of the division.
A search warrant was subsequently authorized for a residence near 45 Avenue and Turner Square, where multiple firearms were seized including two loaded pump-action shotguns, three non-restricted rifles, one loaded restricted rife, five high capacity, prohibited rifle magazines and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.
During their search, investigators also discovered a second explosive device. As a result, the EPS Bomb Detail was again called on to assist, and successfully detonated the explosive.
Landon Carstairs, 32, has since been charged with 38 drug, firearm and explosive-related offences with additional charges pending.